With Montreal Pride parade less than two weeks away, organizers are taking a fresh look at security preparations after the deadly attack near Berlin’s Pride celebrations.
On Monday, Fierté Montréal executive producer Mélanie Reeves met with Montreal police, the City of Montréal and other public authorities to finalize security measures for the festival, which opens Friday, July 31, spokesperson Nathalie Drouin said.
The meetings followed Saturday’s attack near Berlin’s Pride celebrations, where German authorities say 21-year-old Abdul Ballout drove a van into pedestrians before attacking people with a machete. One woman was killed, and 29 people were injured before the suspect was shot and killed by police. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said investigators believe the attack was motivated by Islamist extremism.
While the investigation continues in Germany, the attack has prompted organizers of upcoming Pride celebrations to revisit security planning. Officials preparing for WorldPride in Amsterdam have also said they are closely monitoring the security situation ahead of this week’s events.
Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the attack, saying in a social media post: “Pride celebrates everyone’s right to live openly and authentically. … No one should face hatred or violence because of who they are or who they love.” He expressed Canada’s solidarity with the victims, their families and Germany’s LGBTQ+ community.
For Fierté Montréal, the attack has reinforced planning that has been underway for months.
“These events remind us of the importance of remaining vigilant,” interim executive director Higino Monteiro said in a statement.
Festival organizers said they are exercising “heightened vigilance” and reviewing every aspect of their operations to maximize the safety of participants, attendees and staff ahead of next week’s celebrations.
Fierté Montréal said nearly 10 per cent of the festival’s overall budget is dedicated to security, prevention and well-being measures.
Several safeguards are already built into this year’s festival. Events at Olympic Park will take place inside a secured perimeter, with attendees passing through metal detectors before entering the site. In the Village, additional Jersey barriers and protective installations will reinforce the pedestrianized area and help prevent unauthorized vehicle access.
For the Pride Parade on Aug. 9, approximately 300 security personnel will be deployed, while police vehicles will block cross streets and emergency access points along the route. Organizers say planning for the parade begins months in advance in collaboration with public authorities.
The challenge, organizers say, is ensuring those measures protect the hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend while preserving the openness that has long defined Pride celebrations.
“The events that took place in Berlin deeply sadden us,” Monteiro said. “We strongly condemn this attack and call for unity within our movements to support our communities and protect the spaces that allow all people to live their identities freely, celebrate and advocate for their rights in safety.”
Montreal’s police department declined to discuss operational plans but said it continuously monitors international events that could affect Montreal and adapts deployments based on ongoing risk assessments.